The old waterworks, trucking long ago, was cloaked in fog; its rusty pipes and chipped brick wall gave the appearance of an ancient creature's ribcage. Behind the broken wall crouched Lin Feng. His eyes were squinted and senses were alerted. The smell of blood and wet fur wafted in the air.
He peered through a gap in the rubble and spotted the One-Eyed Wolf-the supposed target of his Hunter Association mission. Its massive body was sprawled across the concrete, throat torn open, but its head-intact, with that signature single eye-remained untouched.
A pack of Cyclops Rats feasted on the carcass, their grotesque, single eyes glowing in the gloom. Each was the size of a dog, but the largest rivaled a calf, its muscles rippling under mangy fur.
So the head's still there, Lin Feng thought, a wicked grin hidden behind his mask. I can finish the Association mission-and farm these rats for my own gain.
His system flickered to life:
[ Targets Detected: Hostile Creatures Stronger Than You ]
[ Title Effect Active: The Predator ]
+25% Damage Output | +15% Damage Resistance | +10% Mana Recovery
He flexed his fingers, feeling curse mana coil within him. The rats were distracted, tearing at the wolf's flesh. Lin Feng whispered, "Mist of Fear."
A dark, oily vapor seeped from his hands, curling low along the ground. It slid between the rats, their eyes widening as primal terror slithered into their minds. They screeched, some freezing, others snapping at shadows only they could see.
Lin Feng moved, swift and silent. His bloodied scalpel flashed, severing a tendon on the nearest rat. It collapsed, shrieking, and he plunged his knife into its eye.
[ Hostile Defeated! ]
+EXP
[ Quest Complete: Kill a Magical Beast ]
[Rewards: Shop Function Unlocked +100 Gold Coins (Shop Currency)]
A second chime:
[ Bonus: +13 Gold Coins (Shop Currency) ]
Lin Feng's lips curled. So the system gives gold at random… interesting.
The other rats spun, panic and rage twisting their faces. The largest charged, but the Mist of Fear made its movements sluggish. Lin Feng danced between them, blades flashing.
He killed another rat-a quick, precise strike to the throat.
[ Hostile Defeated! ]
+EXP
No gold this time. He kept moving, using the mist and the rats' confusion. Another fell, and this time:
[ Hostile Defeated! ]
+EXP
[ Bonus: +7 Gold Coins (Shop Currency) ]
He grinned, adrenaline surging. A random drop, just like a game. I could get used to this.
The largest rat lunged, but Lin Feng rolled aside, letting it crash into a pipe. He leapt onto its back, driving both blades into its neck. The beast thrashed, then went still.
[ Hostile Defeated! ]
+EXP
[ Bonus: +22 Gold Coins (Shop Currency) ]
The mist faded. Lin Feng stood among the corpses, blood spattering his coat. He wiped his blades, then strode to the wolf's body. With practiced efficiency, he severed the head, wrapping it in a ragged tarp.
Mission proof secured. EXP and gold farmed. Not a bad haul.
His system chimed one last time:
_________________
[ Shop Function Unlocked! ]
Available Items:
Cursed Dagger (Epic) – 20000 Gold
Soul Anchor (Rare) – 5000 Gold
Azure Spirit Cigar (Rare)- 200 Gold
_________________
Lin Feng glanced at the shop, then at the carnage around him. He pocketed a few Cyclops Rat teeth-never know when you might need a trophy-and slipped into the shadows, the wolf's head slung over his shoulder.
The hunt was over. For now.
"System, show me the descriptions," he muttered, eyes narrowing at the unfamiliar icons.
A cool, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Cursed Dagger (Epic) – 20,000 Gold Coins]
Forged beyond this world, each strike with this dagger inflicts supernatural agony and terror, amplifying your curse magic and leaving wounds that haunt the mind.
[Soul Anchor Amulet – 5,000 Gold Coins]
An artifact that anchors mana and soul, preventing magical backlash and exhaustion. Slightly enhances all spell damage and allows reckless casting without self-harm.
[Azure Spirit Cigar – 200 Gold Coins]
A spectral cigar that floods your body with revitalizing energy, drastically accelerating mana recovery and clearing mental fatigue for several minutes. System-exclusive, single-use.
Lin Feng glanced at the bottom of the interface:
[Gold Coins: 142]
He stared at the price of the Cursed Dagger, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
"Twenty thousand…?" He let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "At this rate, I'll be an old man before I can even touch it."
There was a flash of regret in his eyes, but it lasted only a second. He shut the shop window, the memory of the dagger still burning bright in his mind-a glimpse of power that would forever remain just out of reach.
Lin Feng wiped his blades clean, the metallic tang of blood still heavy in the air. He checked the ruined waterworks, searching for signs of something unusual. Among the debris, he noticed a ragged hole nibbled right into the concrete wall. A little tunnel that was just big enough for the Cyclops Rats to squeeze through.
He squatted at the opening and peered inside. It was dark, but the light was swallowed up by the fungi and rot inside. The scratch of claws told him everything he needed to know. The tunnel sloped down and branched into twisting corridors; a system devised by the rats, deep and winding. Anyone who was foolhardy enough to venture down there without a map, would likely succumb to the souls of the city in minutes.
A slow, wicked smile crept across Lin Feng's face.
"So this is where you all come from… Looks like I've found myself an exp farm."
He straightened, casting one last look at the yawning maw of the tunnel. No need to share this little secret with the Association. Not yet.
Turning back to the wolf's carcass, he worked quickly and efficiently, severing the head with practiced hands. He wrapped it in a scrap of tarp, tying it off with a length of wire. The proof was all the Association needed.
With the wolf's head slung over his shoulder, Lin Feng slipped away from the ruins, careful to leave no trace of his discovery. The rat hole-and the labyrinth beneath-would remain his private hunting ground, a place to harvest power and gold away from prying eyes.
He melted into the city's shadows, already planning his next visit.
Lin Feng stepped through the Association's glass doors, the wolf's massive, blood-matted head slung over his shoulder. The morning bustle froze. Hunters, mages, and even a few clerks stared, conversations dying mid-sentence. A few jaws dropped outright.
"That's… the One-Eyed Wolf, isn't it?"
"He brought it back alone?"
"No way. That beast was supposed to be a nightmare for a whole squad!"
Lin Feng let their awe wash over him, a faint, controlled smile tugging at his lips behind the mask. All this for a monster I didn't even kill. If only they knew the rats did the hard work. But glory is for the bold, not the honest.
He strode to the counter, dropping the wolf's head with a heavy thud. Blood pooled on the marble, making the receptionist flinch. She recognized him instantly-her eyes darted to the "Ghost" badge, then up to his face, pale and unreadable behind the mask.
For a moment, she hesitated. Only she knew he was a curse mage. Her mind raced, recalling the rumors and warnings: Curse mages are monsters in human skin. They don't just kill-they break spirits, twist fate, leave scars that never heal. They're walking calamities, shunned even by other black mages…
So it wasn't a lie… she thought, a chill running down her spine. He really is a curse mage. And he took down the One-Eyed Wolf alone? How many more like him are out there, hiding in plain sight?
Lin Feng watched her reaction, amusement flickering in his eyes. She's scared. Good. Fear is respect in this world. Let them believe I'm a monster-nobody bothers a monster unless they want to get eaten.
The receptionist forced a professional smile. "C-congratulations, Ghost. That's… an impressive feat. Please wait a moment while I process your reward."
She hurriedly tapped at her terminal, hands trembling just enough for Lin Feng to notice. He let the silence stretch, basking in the attention. So this is what it feels like to be the hero. Or the villain. The difference is just a matter of perspective.
Behind him, whispers swelled:
"When did an Intermediate mage come to Bo City?"
"He took down the One-Eyed Wolf alone? Was he part of some elite squad?"
"Maybe he's an assassin from another city… No way a newcomer could do that."
Lin Feng almost laughed. Let them guess. The more they speculate, the less they'll question what really happened out there. And that rat hole? My secret. My farm.
He let the wolf's massive head drop onto the counter with a wet, meaty thud. The crowd's whispers grew louder, eyes wide with awe and a hint of dread. The receptionist, still pale from the shock, quickly composed herself and began processing the mission completion.
She slid a sleek, black Hunter Association bank card across the counter, the amount-¥50,000-displayed on the small terminal. Lin Feng glanced at it, lips curling in a wry, private smile. Fifty thousand for a beast that could have leveled a city block. They're either cheap or desperate… but it's still more than I had this morning.
The receptionist cleared her throat, voice trembling just slightly. "Your reward has been deposited, Ghost. Please use this card for any Association-related transactions."
He pocketed the card without a word, but didn't move from the counter. The crowd's attention was still fixed on him, and the receptionist seemed to shrink under his steady gaze.
"And the magic item?" Lin Feng asked, his tone calm but carrying an edge that made her flinch.
"Oh-yes, of course!" She scrambled under the desk, pulling out a small, rune-etched box. "This was included in the mission reward. It's a random item, as per Association policy."
She opened the box and slid it toward him. Inside was a silver ring inlaid with a faintly glowing blue gem. Lin Feng picked it up, feeling the subtle pulse of mana within.
Not bad. Even if it's just a trinket, it's worth more than the cash. And more importantly, it's something I can use-or sell.
He slipped the ring onto his finger, letting the crowd see. Let them think I'm flaunting my spoils. The more they watch, the less they see.
The receptionist managed a shaky smile. "Congratulations again, Ghost. The board is open if you wish to take on more missions."
Lin Feng nodded, his voice low and smooth. "I'll think about it."
As he turned to leave, the crowd parted, whispers following him like a shadow:
"Did you see that ring? Must be enchanted…"
"He didn't even blink at the reward. Curse mages really are something else…"
Lin Feng's thoughts were cold and amused. Let them talk. The real prize is still waiting beneath the city-and no one but me knows where to find it.